Method of improving airline luggage inspection

ABSTRACT

Method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler comprises making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has indicia conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is “approved” by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. The method includes providing the luggage screening authority directly or indirectly with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is methods of improving airline luggage inspection, and more particularly, methods of making such inspection less intrusive and more secure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Due to the threat of terrorism, in the weeks prior to Jan. 1, 2003, the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”), a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security, announced that with respect to luggage at United States airports if a TSA baggage screener was unable to open a traveler's bag for inspection because the bag was locked, the screener would have to break the locks on the traveler's bag. Hence, passengers should leave their bags unlocked, according to the TSA. Beginning Jan. 1, 2003 the TSA's federal workers started screening luggage at U.S. airports and when it deemed it necessary it started clipping locks on this luggage in order to open and inspect the luggage.

Since by definition airport luggage screening occurs outside the presence of the passengers whose luggage is being inspected, it is impossible or at least impractical for airport luggage screening personnel to make use of combinations to open combination locks on airport luggage. Nonetheless, passengers may desire to use combination locks to avoid worrying about loss of a key or finding the key.

Although arguably necessary for security, the method of screening luggage that includes opening the passenger's luggage in a manner that leaves the luggage “unlockable” after the inspection process, for example by clipping the heretofore workable lock, suffers from several drawbacks. First, the passenger's belongings have been damaged either because the lock has been clipped or because the luggage has been opened forcibly or both. This causes monetary damage. it also causes aggravation. Second, a new security hazard is generated since the passenger gets back a piece of luggage with a broken or removed lock. This means that during the remainder of the passenger's trip his or her luggage is not secure and can be tampered with. The remainder of the trip may even include further domestic flights. Furthermore, if travelers consistently have their locks broken, travelers will see no value in using locks when traveling, thereby exposing their unlocked luggage to a constant risk of tampering.

One should not assume that security risks exist only among passengers. Terrorists have tried in the past and may try in the future to compromise the workers at the airports who inspect luggage. Accordingly, the no longer secure piece of luggage is subject to the risk that a terrorist or other dangerous person who is within the area of the airport luggage screening personnel—because he is a worker or because he penetrated the secure area—can insert a bomb or other hazardous material into the luggage by easily opening it since it not only does not have a lock anymore but its outward appearance, i.e. a damaged lock, may advertise that it has been tampered with and be easily opened.

Furthermore, the sale of padlocks plummeted after the TSA began the practice of clipping locks. Another thing that happened was that the number of claims for theft and damage allegedly caused by the government and/or airline personnel to passengers' luggage increased significantly since Jan. 1, 2003.

Another problem is that passengers are concerned about theft of the contents of their bags without the protection of locks (after their locks have been rendered useless by the luggage screening authorities)

Travelers understand and support the federal government's initiatives to thwart terrorism. This support of security regulations and procedures on the part of travelers is critical to their implementation and success. However, travelers, just getting accustomed to the new security laws, may have legitimate concerns about baggage inspections. It is crucial that the government or appropriate authorities act to diminish travelers' concerns in this regard.

In addition, working as a TSA luggage screener is a highly demanding and stressful job. Therefore, anything that reduces the physical strain would be highly appreciated by the screeners.

It should be born in mind that the number of airline travelers who pass through airports in the United States in a given year is close to half a billion. Thus, these concerns affect a great many individuals.

Accordingly, there is a compelling and immediate need for a method of inspecting luggage at airports that does not create a security risk and that is not damaging or aggravating to the passengers.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention presents a method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler includes a first step of making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has an indicia thereon conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is “approved” by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. Then providing the luggage screening authority with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key. In accordance with the method of the present invention, therefore, the luggage screening authority need not clip or otherwise break open locks to inspect luggage, nor do they have to break into the luggage in some other manner. The workers need only be told that master keys are available to open locks that have the indicia on them.

Important Objects and Advantages

The following important objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(1) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that avoids forcible opening of the luggage;

(2) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that employs special locks that remain viable after being subjected to airport luggage screening and inspection;

(3) to provide a method of non-intrusively searching passenger's luggage at airports;

(4) to provide a method of screening luggage that uses a master key exclusively maintained by the luggage screening authority;

(5) to provide a method of improving luggage screening at airports that avoids the need for clipping the locks on passenger luggage;

(6) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that eliminates a potential security threat of tampering with broken-into luggage or luggage whose locks have been broken;

(7) to provide a method of luggage screening that reduces the costs of the luggage screening authority;

(8) to provide a method of luggage screening that eliminates the need for lock clippers;

(9) to provide a luggage screening method that reduces injuries to luggage screeners that may arise from clipping locks;

(10) to provide an improved method of luggage screening at airports that requires essentially no new training;

(11) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that reduces the liability to the luggage screening authority;

(12) to provide an improved method of luggage screening that would not interfere with current policy of the luggage screening authority in that luggage locks could still be clipped if they did not display the indicia conveying that were “TSA approved” or authorized;

(13) to provide a luggage screening method that decreases the labor of luggage screeners in that opening the special lock of the method of the present invention requires less manual labor than breaking locks;

(14) to provide a method of luggage screening that provides a public relations benefit to the TSA or luggage screening authority in that travelers will appreciate the TSA or luggage screening authority's concern for their personal property, an important benefit for new agency;

(15) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that allows the luggage screening authority to get its work done more efficiently;

(16) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that allows a thorough search of the passenger's luggage while at the same time providing a less intrusive and more comfortable search to the passenger;

(17) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that eliminates the danger of tampering with luggage that has been broken into subsequent to the screening process; and

(18) to provide a method that eliminates the need to break into the luggage at a point other than its lock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention in open position modified to show a key hole for a master key on the bottom.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention modified to show a key hole for a master key on the bottom.

FIG. 4 shows the special lock depicted in FIG. 1 in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The method of the present invention includes the step of making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and having a master key lock, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage. The special lock also has indicia thereon conveying to luggage purchasers and to the luggage screening authority that the special lock is a lock that the luggage screening authority has agreed not to break. The indicia can state, for example, that the special lock is “approved”, “accepted” or “authorized” by the luggage screening authority. The term “indicia” is a broad term and can include the special lock having a distinctive physical characteristic such shape, texture; weight and/or other characteristic that makes it instantly recognizable by individuals working for the luggage screening authority who are specifically for that characteristic. Alternatively, a distinctive chemical or electronic characteristic can be used—in short any distinctive characteristic that can be instantly recognized by persons looking for it.

The phrase “any special lock of this type” is intended to include special locks having a multiplicity of sub-types such as different sizes, different manufacturing designs or styles, etc.

Besides making the special lock more valuable to prospective luggage purchasers or lock purchasers, such indicia also tells the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened by the luggage screening authority using the master key and that the special lock is among those locks that the luggage screening authority agrees not to break in order to inspect the luggage. The phrase “approved”, “accepted” or “authorized” is a broad phrase intended to include other words or terms that signify that the luggage screening authority agrees that locks having such indicia will not be broken into.

The method of the present invention also includes the step of providing the luggage screening authority, directly or indirectly, with access to the master key. This step includes providing such access with the help of or in conjunction with another business entity, i.e. a third party. The access is to be exclusive except that one or more of the following entities may retain copies of the master key: the manufacturer of the special lock, since it may need to retool the special lock, the provider to the passengers of the special lock, which may or may not be the same as the manufacturers, the manufacturer and/or the provider of the master key to the luggage screening authority. It is anticipated that the manufacturer of the special lock will also provide the master key but other possibilities are also contemplated by the present invention.

The step of providing access may be accomplished by delivering one or more master keys to the luggage screening authority or by delivering one or master keys to a company or organization whose responsibility it is to cause said one or more master keys to be delivered to the luggage screening authority.

Access to the master key by the luggage screening authority includes having access to any appropriate number of such master keys by its workers or by any appropriate division of part of said luggage screening authority.

Although the present invention is a method of improving the inspection of airline luggage, the method of the present invention makes use of an apparatus. This apparatus is a special lock. The special lock is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings. Consequently, the special lock used in the method of the present invention has been assigned reference numeral 10 Other elements have been assigned the reference numerals referred to below.

Combination locks have certain advantages over locks with keys. For one thing, there is no need to fear loss of the key. Hence, it is advantageous to have combination locks on luggage used to fly with since flights tend to cause stress and stress can lead to loss of the key. Second, even if one has the key it takes time to retrieve it. If the luggage has to be opened suddenly then retrieval of the key is an inconvenience. Although combination locks require memorization of access to the coded combination, this is usually considered better than a key lock on balance to many passengers. Hence, there is a need for a method of improving luggage screening at airports that makes of a special lock that includes a unique combination but that is nonetheless convenient and secure for the passengers and for the airport luggage screening personnel.

As seen from FIGS. 1-4, special lock 10 includes a combination lock portion 20 having a unique combination and a master key lock. The master key lock portion is opened by a master key that is inserted in key hole 30. Typically, although not necessarily, the key hole would be inconspicuously placed on the bottom of the special lock 10. The combination lock portion can be any kind of combination lock portion suitable for use with a piece of luggage at an airport. The combination can be a front dial that is turned or several dials that are turned to set the combination.

Presently, the Transportation Security Administration, a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security has the task of screening travelers' luggage at airports. However, the term “luggage screening authority” is intended broadly to encompass both the Transportation Security Administration and any governmental entity or non-governmental organization whose task includes screening the luggage of travelers at airports in the United States or a non-governmental organization. Alternatively, the luggage screening authority can be a governmental entity or non-governmental organization whose task includes screening the luggage of travelers at airports in Canada or another country. Furthermore, the luggage screening authority is also intended to broadly include individual workers who screen luggage at airports and other personnel of the TSA or of some other entity or organization whose task it is to screen such luggage.

Thus, the master key allows the authorized agency's workers to have the ability to open any of the luggage that the workers inspect in a manner without clipping the lock. The indicia notifies the luggage screening authority which pieces of luggage has locks that lock the master key opens and it notifying purchasers of the special lock of an added value of the special lock. Market research exists to support the fact that customers will spend significantly more on luggage if they know that it comes with a lock that the luggage screening authorities such as the TSA recognize as being openable by their master key and without forcibly opening the luggage.

As seen in FIG. 2, the indicia 50 can take the form of a phrase “approved by the TSA” or any similar phrase or it can be anything else that conveys the approval, authority, acceptance etc. by the TSA or other relevant luggage screening authority. It should be understood that although one example of the indicia appears in FIG. 2 only, the other embodiments of the special lock used in the method of the present invention would also have the indicia.

It should be noted that with the use of the special lock by the traveler, the traveler still selects a combination for the combination lock portion of the special lock 10 and the traveler has that combination for the combination lock portion part of the special lock. Accordingly, the traveler still has a useful secure lock after passing airport security. In addition, the luggage screening authority still maintains an effective and quick way of accessing airport luggage for inspection whenever it deems doing so necessary.

It should be noted that the terms “master key” and “master key lock portion” are broad terms intended to also include electronic or other sensor mechanisms for opening up the master key lock portion in special lock 10. Thus, the method of the present invention contemplates using in certain embodiments a special lock 10 that makes use of an electronic sensor instead of a traditional physical key even though such a traditional physical key is what is typically understood by the term “master key”. In such a case the locking mechanism inside special lock 10 would not be a traditional master key lock mechanism but rather would be a locking mechanism that is opened by an electronic sensor.

The present invention also contemplates that in certain embodiments other lock mechanisms besides a traditional combination lock can be used as one of the locks in special lock 10. Hence, in an alternative embodiment, the method would employ a first lock portion instead of a combination lock portion in special lock 10. The first lock portion can be any kind of locking mechanism useful for and easily accessible by the passenger.

It is to be understood that while the method of this invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the above-described embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. It is to be understood also that various other modifications and changes may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. The spirit and scope of this invention are limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A method of making plural categories of locks available to travelers to secure luggage therewith, said special locks being configured to be recognized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as being openable by the TSA with a master key provided thereto, said locks having indicia thereon specifically configured to convey to the TSA and the travelers that the locks can be opened by the TSA for luggage screening without breaking the locks, said method comprising: making available to travelers plural categories of said special locks, each category comprising plural locks, wherein: each lock in each of said plural categories has a first lock portion and a second lock portion; each first lock portion of each lock in said plural categories of locks is configured to open and lock the lock while the second lock portion of the same lock is an remains in a locked position; each second lock portion of each lock in said plural categories of special locks is configured to opens the lock while the first lock portion of the same lock is and remains in a locked position; the first lock portion of a first category of the plurality of categories of locks is unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the first category of locks but differs from the manner in which the first lock portion of a second category of the plurality of categories of locks is unlocked; and the second lock portion of each of the locks of both the first category of locks and of the second category of locks is unlocked with the same master key; each of the special locks in both said first category of special locks and said second category of special locks having thereon the same indicia at a prominent location on each lock; said indicia being in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks; said indicia being specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the luggage screening authority that the screening authority is authorized pursuant to said agreement to open the special locks of both the first and the second categories of special locks with said master key in order to inspect luggage secured with said special locks; and providing the locks of both the first and the second categories of locks with an attachment portion configured to interlock with luggage to secure the luggage.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of making said locks available comprises making available locks in which the first lock portion of each lock of said first category of locks is one type of a combination lock and each lock of the said second category of locks is another type of a combination lock.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which making said locks available comprises making available locks in which the first lock portion of each lock of said first category of locks is a side dial combination lock and each lock of the said second category of locks is a front dial combination lock.
 4. The method of claim 1 in which making said locks available comprises making available locks in which the first lock portions of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a lock mechanism other than a combination lock mechanism.
 5. The method of claim 1 further including securing the special locks to luggage.
 6. A method of using locks to secure travelers' luggage that is subject to inspection by a government-authorized luggage screening authority that is empowered to open luggage for screening out of the presence of the travelers, comprising: obtaining locks each of which that has a first lock portion and a second lock portion; said first lock portion of each of the locks being configured to respond to manipulation by a traveler to open and lock the lock while the second portion of the same lock is an remains in a locked position; said second lock portion of each of the locks being configured to respond to manipulation by the luggage inspection authority to open the lock while the first lock portion of the same lock is and remains in a locked position; said first portion of each of the locks of a first multiplicity of the locks being configured to open the lock in response to a traveler's manipulation that is different from that opening each of the locks of a second multiplicity of the locks; the second portion of each of the locks of both multiplicities of the locks being configured to open the lock with the same master key; each of the special locks of both multiplicity of locks having thereon the same indicia placed at a prominent location on the lock; said indicia being in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks; said indicia being specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized to open the lock with said same master key in order to inspect the luggage; and attaching the special locks to luggage.
 7. The method of claim 6, further including using said same master key to open the locks for luggage inspection by said screening authority.
 8. The method of claim 1 in which the screening authority is the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
 9. A set of special locks for travelers' luggage, which locks are configured for a government-authorized luggage screening authority to be able to open the locks to screen the travelers' luggage using a master key or tool while the locks are and remain in a locked position set by the travelers, comprising: a first category of special locks and a second category of special locks that is different from the first category, wherein: each of the locks of the first category differ from each of the locks of the second category in the manner in which a traveler can open the lock; each of the locks of each of the first and second categories is configured to enable the screening authority to unlock the locks with the same master key; each lock of each of the first category and of the second category has a first lock portion and a second lock portion, and each lock portion has a locked position and an unlocked position; each first lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category is configured to open and lock the lock while the second lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position; each second lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category is configured to open the lock while the first lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position; the first lock portion of the locks of the first category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the first category; the first lock portion of the locks of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the second category but differs from the manner in which the first lock portion of each of the locks of the first category of locks is unlocked; the second portion of each lock of both the first category of locks and of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked with the same master key or tool; each of the locks in both said first category of locks and said second category of locks has thereon the same indicia placed at a prominent location on each lock to be readily discerned by travelers and the screening authority; said indicia are in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks; and said indicia are specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized pursuant to open the lock with said master key or tool in order to inspect the luggage.
 10. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises one type of a combination lock and each first lock portion of each lock of the second category of locks comprises another type of a combination lock.
 11. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a side dial combination lock and the first lock portion of each lock of the second category of locks comprises a front dial combination lock.
 12. The set of special locks of claim 1 further comprising a third category of special locks each having a first lock portion configured to be opened and locked by a traveler and a second lock portion configured to be unlocked by the screening authority with the same master key while the first locked portion remains in a locked position, wherein the first portion of the locks of the third category of locks is configured to be opened in a manner different from that of the first lock portions of the first and second categories of locks.
 13. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which the first lock portions of each lock of the first category comprises a lock mechanism other than a combination lock mechanism.
 14. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which each of the locks of said set comprises a key hole for said master key on a bottom surface of the lock.
 15. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which said indicia comprise a phrase.
 16. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which at least some of the locks have shackles and said indicia are on said shackles.
 17. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which said each of at least some of the locks have lock bodies and said indicia are on portions of the locks other than the bodies thereof.
 18. The set of special locks of claim 9 further comprising said master key or tool configured to unlock said second lock portions.
 19. The set of special locks of claim 9 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a combination lock and each lock of the second category of locks comprises a locking mechanism other than a combination lock.
 20. A set of locks configured consistent with a formalized arrangement with a government-authorized luggage screening authority according to which the screening authority can open the locks and inspect the travelers' luggage while the locks are and remain in a locked position set by the travelers, comprising: a first category of locks and a second categories of locks, wherein: the locks of the first category differ from the locks of the second category in a manner in which a traveler can open the lock; the locks of each of the first and second categories are configured consistent with the arrangement with the screening authority to enable the screening authority to unlock all of the locks of both the first category and the second category with the same master key or tool; each lock of each of the first category and of the second category or locks has a first lock portion and a second lock portion, and each lock portion has a locked position and an unlocked position; each first lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category or locks is configured to open and lock the lock through a manipulation by the traveler while the second lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position; each second lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category of locks is configured to open the lock through a manipulation by the authority while the first lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position; the first lock portion of the locks of the first category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the first category; the first lock portion of the locks of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the second category but differs from the manner in which the first lock portion of the first category of locks is unlocked; the second portion of each lock of both the first category of locks and of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked with the same master key or tool; each of the locks in both said first category of locks and said second category of locks carries the same indicia placed at a prominent location on each lock so as to be readily observed by travelers and the authority; the indicia are consistent with said arrangement with the screening authority. the indicia are in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks; and the indicia are specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized pursuant to said arrangement to open the lock with said master key or tool in order to screen the luggage.
 21. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises one type of a combination lock and each first lock portion of each lock of the said second category of locks comprises another type of a combination lock.
 22. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a side dial combination lock and the first lock portion of each lock of the second category of locks comprises a front dial combination lock.
 23. The set of special locks of claim 20 further comprising a third category of special locks each having a first lock portion configured to be opened and locked by a traveler and a second lock portion configured to be unlocked by the screening authority with the same master key while the first lock portion is and remains in a locked position.
 24. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which the first lock portions of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a lock mechanism other than a combination lock mechanism.
 25. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which each of the locks of said set comprises a key hole for said master key on a bottom surface of the lock.
 26. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which said indicia comprise a phrase.
 27. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which at least some of the locks have shackles and said indicia are on said shackles.
 28. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which said each lock of at least some of the locks has a lock body and said indicia are on a portion of the lock other than the body thereof.
 29. The set of special locks of claim 20 further comprising said master key or tool.
 30. The set of special locks of claim 20 in which the first lock portion of each lock of the first category of locks comprises a combination lock and each lock of the second category of locks comprises a locking mechanism other than a combination lock. 